Can I invest in direct stocks and mutual funds?

I am investing a total of Rs 1 lakh every month. I am investing in direct stocks (Rs 30,000) and mutual funds SIPs (Rs 70,000). Is it good to invest in both stocks and MFs ?

—Pavan Kumar Reddy

We always maintain that you should invest in mutual fund directly only if you know enough about mutual funds. The same thing applies to stocks. Do you know about investing in stocks? You can identify stocks, read company reports and balance sheet? If yes, you can invest in stocks. However, you should remember that you are on your own. Unlike a mutual fund, there are no fund managers to take care of your investments - that is, you are responsible for timely buying and selling decisions. Do you have the time and knowledge to do that? If yes, you can invest directly in stocks.